True Horror Story

<snip>they were glad they were not called upon or reading the next case and praying that they don't get called upon. Once you realize that your classmates do not care how you brief (they only care that YOU are briefing and not them), then you will be more relaxed and your briefs will be smoother.

Ha ha... so true.

BTW, I had this happen to me last year. It was the last class, and my section wasn't up. Who would have guessed I would be called on? Well, I read the first few lines before standing up. I then breifed the case by talking about the procedure. The prof said, "I don't care about that, let's get to the point." (Mind you, this was the last class after a full year with the same prof, so I knew what she wanted). While she was talking about (something) I read the next bit and got the facts out... I then spit them back out, and she handled the rest. Talk about a panic reading of a case.

If you haven't read and the prof nails you, it's usually better to BS or say "I didn't understand that aspect of the case" or something rather than say I didn't read. Usually they take points off if you say you are unprepared. They usually don't if you BS.

Most of us are running late for Class B because Class A went over. As I'm sitting down and powering up my laptop, prof calls on me--not to discuss the assignment we've been given but to discuss the PREVIOUS assignment. Completely unfair, but not usually a problem.. just bring up the old briefs and refresh my memory.. even though it has been 6 days and he said we were finished with the previous one.

All of a sudden I can't find any of files. Not a single one. None of my class notes, briefs, etc. Completely gone from my laptop. Terror and panic ensued.

I tried to explain that I had prepared but couldn't find them on my laptop, figuring honesty was the best approach. Wrong!

The professor was merciless. Embarrassed me badly and sarcastically for the entire class period and told me in front of everyone that "I sincerely hope you know how to prepare better than this for class." And, of course, if I made excuses I'd look like a whiner. Law school--you can cry when you're dead!

So I was sitting there during first semester of first year when I hear my name called damn it. Whatever, I had actually skimmed the reading, so I thought it'd be okay.

My super-philosophical professor quizzes me for more than an hour. Not an exaggeration. I know some stuff, but when it comes down to his philosophical rantings, I have no idea what he's talking about. For about 10 minutes, he kept asking me the same question over and over even though I flat out said, "I do not know the answer." Buddy, it's not going to miraculously come to me.

People feel bad for me. A few brave classmates try to help me out by shouting out suggestions. No one gets it right. Thanks, though.

My favorite moment had to be like 30 mintues into it when the girl in front of me turned around and mouthed, "OH MY GOD" to me.

Moral of the story: How embarrassing is it to be wrong? Not that embarrassing as far as I'm concerned. This wasn't Jaywalking, the guy was asking hard stuff. I'm glad it was me. I'll take one for the team.

What's wrong with gunners? I don't understand, if someone would rather answer the question wouldn't you want them to instead of you, especially if ou don't know it and the prof calls on you?

What is a gunner anyways? I've heard various definitions.

The accepted meaning of "gunner" is someone whose hand shoots up like a bullet from a gun every time the professor asks a question. As annoying as gunners are, there is a lot of validity to kmpnj's " premption "strategy. Law professors get a sick, twisted pleasure out of calling on a student who they think might be unprepared. Giving them the answer voluntarily ( if you actually do know the answer) denies them that pleasure.